Messages

1

Scale Aircraft Modelling / New 1/48 Fouga Magister decal sheet now available

« on: April 22, 2014, 11:29:12 pm »

Hi All,

A selection of Fouga Magister subjects have been scaled up to 1/48 scale to suit the new Kinetic/Wingman or Avant Garde kits. Max4823 is now available to order direct from max Decals at 12 euro including worldwide postage.





See Max Decals shop for ordering.

Cheers,

Joe

2

Scale Aircraft Modelling / New Fouga Magister decal sheet now available

« on: November 13, 2013, 11:59:05 pm »

Max decals is pleased to announce that the new Fouga Magister decal sheet in 1/72 scale is now available to purchase direct from our store at

http://www.maxdecals.com/Maxdecalsshop.html

The sheet features Fouga Magisters from no less than 11 former operators of the type including Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, El Salvador, Finland (6 options no less!), Ireland (Silver Swallows aerobatic display team), Katanga, Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal and Togo.  It's a treat for fans of small air forces and the decals are suitable for all the Fouga Magister kits in 1/72 scale including those announced recently by MPM and Valom together with the existing Heller and airfix kits.

The Fouga Magister sheet costs 14 euro including worldwide postage.
Selected subjects from this sheet will be scaled up to 1/48 scale for the new kits from Kinetic and Avant Garde.

To celebrate the launch of this new decal sheet we are temporarily reducing the price on what must be the definitive book on the Fouga. Fouga Magister- An Irish perspective is the perfect reference for those that wish to add plenty of detail to their Fouga models. The book can be purchased from Max decals at 15 euro each plus postage.







Best regards,

Joe

3

Scale Aircraft Modelling / New Max Decals Max7220 Irish Air Corps 1956-2010 plus Irish Army vehicles

« on: July 16, 2013, 09:50:20 pm »

Max7220 Irish Air Corps 1956-2010 selection features aircraft and helicopters adorned with the the three colour celtic boss which was introduced in 1956 and remains in use on Irish Air Corps aircraft to the present day. The decal sheet provides markings for the following types:
•   Beech Super Kingair 200 (2 options) for the Mach 2 or RVHP kits.
•   DHC-1 Chipmunk ( 2 options) 169 wearing the 2 colour boss and 164 with the three colour boss.
•   Vampire T.55 for the new Airfix kit.
•   SA 330L Puma Helicopter for the Airfix/Heller kit
•   SA 342L Gazelle Helicopter for the Airfix/Heller kits.
•   SIAI Marchetti SF 260W Warrior for the Planet Models kit.
•   Reims Cessna FR-172H for the Arii kit.
•   Percival provost for the Mtachbox or Czechmaster resin kit.

In a new departure for Max Decals bonus markings consisting of registration plates and unit badges are included in 1/35 scale for a range of Irish Army vehicles. Featured vehicles include:
•   Rolls Royce Armoured Car for the Roden kit.
•   Churchill Mk VI tank for the AFV  kit.
•   Scorpion tank
•   Ford trucks (1938 and 1940 pattern) based on the ICM kits
•   DUKW

With full colour instructions, the decal sheet retails for €12 including worldwide postage if ordered from Max Decals at http://www.maxdecals.com/Maxdecalsshop.html

4

Irish Air Corps / Fouga Magister talks at the National Museum Collins Barracks

« on: June 27, 2013, 08:03:27 am »

Special Talks- The Fouga Magister in Irish Air Corps Service.The Fouga Magister became famous as the mount for the Silver Swallows Aerobatic Display Team that thrilled crowds at home and abroad for many years. A series of talks to celebrate the aircraft will be given by Brigadier General Paul Fry, General Officer Commanding the Irish Air Corps, Comdt ret'd John Mulvanny, former team leader of the Silver Swallows and Joe Maxwell, author on Saturday 6th July at the National Museum, Collins Barracks. The talks will commence at 2.30pm and admission is free but advance booking is essential. If you wish to attend you must book a place by contacting the museum via email to bookings@museum.ie

5

Shameless Promotion / Special talks on the Fouga Magister

« on: June 27, 2013, 07:38:59 am »

Special Talks- The Fouga Magister in Irish Air Corps Service.
The Fouga Magister became famous as the mount for the Silver Swallows Aerobatic Display Team that thrilled crowds at home and abroad for many years. A series of talks to celebrate the aircraft will be given by Brigadier General Paul Fry, General Officer Commanding the Irish Air Corps, Comdt ret'd John Mulvanny, former team leader of the Silver Swallows and Joe Maxwell, author on Saturday 6th July at the National Museum, Collins Barracks. The talks will commence at 2.30pm and admission is free but advance booking is essential. If you wish to attend you must book a place by contacting the museum via email to bookings@museum.ie

6

Irish Aviation History / Sad news- Paddy Cummins RIP

« on: June 06, 2013, 05:06:56 pm »

It is with great sadness that I inform the forum of the passing of Patrick J Cummins today. Paddy would be known to many of you as an aviation historian based in Waterford. He had a passionate interest in the Irish Air Corps  and he penned many articles over the years. I was lucky enough to work with him on an Air Corps book a few years ago and he wrote the definitive book on aircraft crashes in the south east during the second world war. He had a very generous spirit and he will be missed.

Funeral arrangements to be published on WLR.ie in the next day or so.
Ar dheis Dé raibh a anam

7

Shameless Promotion / Re: New Book: Fouga Magister- An Irish Perspective

« on: November 23, 2012, 07:52:16 pm »

More book signings this weekend at the ALSAA Air Fair on Sunday 25th November in the Aer Lingus staff sports centre opposite Dublin Airport.

Cheers,

Joe

8

Shameless Promotion / Re: New Book: Fouga Magister- An Irish Perspective

« on: November 15, 2012, 10:53:24 pm »

Thanks for all the kind comments on the book. Radu and myself will be signing copies at the Cork Model Fair this Sunday 18th November at the Imperial Hotel on South mall in Cork City.

Regards,

Joe

9

Shameless Promotion / New Book: Fouga Magister- An Irish Perspective

« on: August 31, 2012, 11:06:07 pm »

Press Release
New Book:  Fouga Magister - An Irish Perspective by Joe Maxwell & Radu Brinzan details the history of the Fouga Magister in Irish Air Corps Service between 1975 until 1997.

The Irish Air Corps is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its foundation this year and a new book by Joe Maxwell and Radu Brinzan tells the story of the Fouga Magister jet trainer that served the Air Corps remarkably well for 24 years between 1975 and 1997. The aircraft would be well known to many as the mount of the Silver Swallows Aerobatic Display Team that thrilled crowds at air shows up and down the country and abroad for over ten years. The Silver Swallows became famous internationally when they were awarded the prestigious Lockheed Martin Cannestra trophy for the best display by an overseas team at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford in 1997. This was an incredible achievement for a small team of instructor pilots who had to fit in practice for their routine in the evenings and at weekends.

Less well known however, is the fact that a Fouga Magister of the Katangan Air Force flown by a Belgian national carried out bombing and machine gun attacks on Irish troops serving in the Congo in 1961. This was the first occasion on which Irish troops would experience an air attack. The book describes those attacks which had a profound effect on future UN peacekeeping operations around the globe. In an ironic twist, the Irish Air Corps later purchased two of the Fouga Magisters that had been destined for Katanga but had been withheld as a result of an arms embargo to the breakaway province of the Congo. Four refurbished Fouga Magisters that had been operated by the Austrian Air Force were also purchased.

The book also sheds light on an early attempt by the Irish Government to set up an aircraft manufacturing industry by supporting foreign direct investment from French aircraft manufacturer, Henri Potez during the 1960s. The factory was built at Rathcoole just beside the Irish Air Corps base at Baldonnel for a cost of over £3 million to the tax payer. But no aircraft were ever built there. Henri Potez had the misfortune of attempting to sell the Potez 840, (a four-engine, propeller driven executive transport) to the rich and famous at the same time as Bill Lear was marketing his sleek Learjet to the same customer base. Needless to say, customers flocked to the Learjet and the Potez 840 sank without trace. The subsequent debacle that followed the closure of the factory and the loss of funds to the exchequer provided a valuable lesson to the IDA when dealing with prospective inward investors.

Granted unparalleled access to three surviving airframes, the authors have included what are considered to be the most accurate scale drawings of the Fouga ever produced in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale. Although the authors have concentrated mainly on the Irish use of the Fouga, the technical description alone should ensure that this book finds a wider international audience amongst those interested in the Fouga Magister. Comprehensively illustrated with over 160 photos, 25 drawings and three tables packed into 108 pages, the authors have produced what must be the definitive English language guide to the Fouga Magister.

Fouga Magister – An Irish Perspective goes on sale from September 7th. Price €22.
ISBN 978-0-9562624-1-7
Note to Editors
For further information contact Joe Maxwell at joe@maxdecals.com
See http://www.maxdecals.com/fougabooksample.html for sample pages.

10

Scale Aircraft Modelling / Photos from IMSS show held at Dublin Castle

« on: May 13, 2012, 11:13:54 pm »

Hi All,

Here is a link to a few photos from this weekend's Irish Model Soldier Society show that was held in Dublin Castle.

http://www.maxdecals.com/IMSS2012.html

Regards,

Joe

11

Irish Aviation History / Re: Spitfire Tr9 ex 158 at Duxford

« on: February 04, 2011, 08:58:16 pm »

Hi Filip,

I suspect the wreckage in the photo with the underside "camera port" might be that of Spitfire Tr.9 No. 160 which was written off in  February 1957. I'm not sure it is a camera port. There may have been an inspection hatch or a port for some other device in that area of the fuselage.

Regards,

Joe

12

Aviation Videos / Axalp 2010 Live Firing demonstration

« on: November 07, 2010, 06:28:34 pm »

Hi Folks,

Some impressions from Axalp 2010 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k6g19pp7kA

Regards,

Joe

13

Irish Air Corps / Re: armed cessna pic.....

« on: July 30, 2010, 10:56:18 am »

I read somewhere that the drop in indicated airspeed when firing the rockets might have something to do with the exhaust gases from the rockets impinging on the aircraft static ports? If the pressure at the static port increases then the instruments will appear to indicate a drop in forward airspeed. Just from looking at the stencilling on the Cessna there are static ports part way back on the fuselage. Maybe this was the cause?

Regards,

Joe

14

Irish Air Corps / Re: Dauphin's - Where are they now?

« on: December 03, 2009, 09:41:35 pm »

Hi Frank,

See link for details
http://www.modocharlie.com/2009/03/nuevo-dauphin-naval/

15

Irish Aviation History / Request for old Air Corps photos for a new book.

« on: July 26, 2008, 08:55:30 pm »

I'm working on a book with PJ Cummins illustrating the colour schemes
and markings used by the Irish Air Corps from 1922 to
the present day. The book will consist of brief
histories of each aircraft type that were used,
illustrated with period photos and new high quality
colour profiles for the aircraft for which only black
and white photos exist.

I'm seeking assistance in locating photographs of
Irish Air Corps aircraft that have hitherto not been
published.  As many of the best Air Corps shots have been
published before we are attempting to source as many
original photos from private collections as possible.
We won't be in a position to pay for any photos used
in the book but we will acknowledge all assistance
received, credit each photo with the name of the
author or collection and give contributors a free copy
of the book.

I'm looking for photos of any aircraft type used by
the Air Corps in the period 1922 to around1945.
Any help on this project would be much appreciated.

Best regards,

Joe Maxwell
joe(at)maxdecals.com
087 2057659